Improvement in gas-retorts



W. BEAUMONT.

Gas Retort.

No. 24,531. I Patented June 28, 1859.

Witnesses: v u/;m v Inventor:

AM. PHDTD-LITHQCQNX (OSBDRNE'S PROCESS) UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM BEAUMONT, OF PATERSON, NEWV JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN GAS-RETORTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 24,531, dated June 28, 1859.

tion of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in Which Figure 1 represents an end view, and Fig. 2 represents a horizontal'section through one of the retorts in question. Fig. 3 represents the shape of the cover for a retort of the form herein represented. A

Retorts become cracked by the expansion and contraction they are subjected to, and my object is to make provision for such expansion and contraction, as far as it is possible to do so, and thus save much of the expense heretofore incurred in that article. Simply corrugating the periphery of a retort will not answer unless the heads are corrugated also, for the shell otherwise will part from the heads, and this simply transfers the fracture from one portion to another portion of the retort.

The nature of my invention consists in corrugating the shell or perimeter of the retort as well as its head or end (or heads, if necessary) which is most exposed to the action of the fire, and consequently most subjected to expansion and contraction, thus making a retort which contains within itself the means of compensating for the expansion and contraction of the metal of which it is composed in all directions.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the same'with reference to the drawings.

I propose to cast the retorts; but they may. be made of wrought plates, as boiler-iron, if so preferred. For the purpose of making gas the cast retorts are cheapest.

A represent-s the shell of the retort, which has a series of corrugations a a, &c., all around it.

B is the rear end-of the retort, which is also corrugated, as seen at b. IVhere the shelland rear end joins they show a corrugated joint, as seen in the section, and hence'every part and portion of the retort may expand without one part separating from the other part or v causing a fracture of the metal.

The head 0, notbeing subjected to anything like th e heat that the other portions of the retort are, need not be corrugated, especially when the cover or head is at the end and the retort stands, as shown in Fig. 2,though atno time is it subjected to anyhigh degree of heat.

D D are lugs cast-upon the body of the retort, into which the arms E on the cover 0 fit. WVhen thus put together and secured and the joint packed, the retort is perfectly tight.

, F are ribs cast on the head of the retort to strengthen it.

The general outline of the retort is seen in Fig. 1, it being of an irregular circular form and having its top, bottom, and sides arched and corrugated both. The head 0, Fig. 3, has its perimeter of the shape and form of the shell, so as to fit its curves and corrugations. By thus making the corrugations all around those parts of the retort exposed to the fire it is free at all points to expandand contract without fracture. Besides, such corrugations present more fire-surface to a retort of agiven content than when simply round, oval, or Y most subject to expansion andcontraction corrugated to prevent fracture, as herein described.

WILLIAM BEAUMONT.

' WVitnesses:

. NATHL. LANE,

ROBERTS R. TAYLOR. 

